Porsche Boxster and Cayman GTS

Available to order now, from Porsche Centres in the UK and Ireland are the Generation 981 Boxster and Cayman. They cost £52,879 and £55,397 respectively. First deliveries will be in May 2014.

The new Boxster GTS features an uprated 3.4 litre engine taken from the Boxster S, with an increase in power of 15 bhp making an output of 330 bhp. Torque has increased too, the flat-six now producing 273 lbs ft over 265 lbs ft in the Boxster S. The Cayman GTS – a little more powerful than the Boxster, now produces 340 bhp and 280 lbs ft from the same 3.4 litre boxer unit at the centre of the car.

Both cars feature the Sport Chrono package and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard. As you would expect, this system allows the driver to dial in different damper stiffness. In conjunction with this, throttle characteristics can be tailored to deliver sharper response in order to achieve better balance when driving on the limit.

With the optional seven-speed dual clutch transmission, Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK is easier off the tongue) and at the press of the Sport Plus button activating Launch Control, the Boxster delivers a 0-62 sprint time of 4.7 seconds. It’s hard-top sister gets there 0.1 seconds quicker. There’s 0.3 seconds difference than the Boxster and Cayman S when fitted with PDK.

Dynamic engine mounts – part of the Sport Chrono package, stiffen automatically under acceleration, braking and cornering, reducing the effects of weight transfer which would upset the mid-engined car’s notorious sweet balance.

Both the Boxster and Cayman GTS can partake of a optional sports chassis, lowering the ride height 20 mm which makes the cars suitable for both track and day-to-day use.

Distinguishing features of the GTS model are a distinctive front spoiler, black finished Bi-Xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) as standard. At the rear, you will find black gloss lettering and a re-styled lower apron. Inside, like other GTS models throughout the Porsche brand there are leather sports seats as standard with lashings of Alcantara.